West Coast Railway was a passenger train company operating in Victoria, Australia that operated services between Melbourne and Warrnambool from September 1993 until August 2004. The travel time for the journey (Warrnambool – Melbourne) was around 3 hours. This is on average around 30 minutes quicker than the current journeys. History West Coast Railway was formed in 1993 when the Kennett State Government offered long-distance country rail services previously run by the government-owned operator V/Line to private operators. Bids were lodged in February 1993 and West Coast Railway was announced as the successful tender on 30 April the same year. The initial franchise was for eight years with operations commencing on 19 September 1993. Subsequently, a three-year extension was negotiated. While most other rail services tendered were replaced by road coach services, West Coast Railway successfully tendered to retain a rail service. During the 11 years of WCR operation of the line, patronage increased by 20%. The first rail service under WCR operated on 19 September when V/Line locomotive N466 hauled the 17:00 Warrnambool to Melbourne Spencer Street service. In August 2001, Connex purchased a 50% shareholding. Donald Gibson and Gary McDonald continued to hold the other 50% shareholding. In 2003, Connex sold its shareholding to Australian Public Trustees. In 2001, the two directors of the company Gibson and McDonald bought a 50% share in Tranz Scenic, the national passenger operator in New Zealand. In May 2004, the TranzScenic shareholding was sold back to Toll NZ. Rolling stock West Coast Railway operated rolling stock that was notable for being largely made up of 50 year old locomotives including a steam locomotive and some rolling stock bought from V/Line. This replaced the 1980s-built locomotives and rolling stock that had previously operated on the line. This was in contrast to the successful tenderer for the Shepparton line rail service from Hoys Roadlines, who decided to lease rolling stock from V/Line. The locomotives purchased from V/Line were: B class locomotives: B61, B64 (never restored to service), B65, B75 (also never restored to service), B76 and B80 (restored for failed South Australian Tourist Venture: The Murraylander) S class locomotives: S300, S302, S311 and S312 (never restored to service) T class locomotives T363, T369 and T385 The carriages purchased were S and Z type steel-bodied passenger carriages built between 1937 and 1959. They also purchased a Western Australian Government Railways Commissioner's carriage WAL 951. A